"You were extremely irritating," said the Vicar's lady, smiling, "but I forgive you. After all, you paid more attention to what I said than I expected you would."
"It must be very satisfactory for you to think that."
"You know I have no ill-feeling towards you at all. I gave you a piece of my mind because I thought it was my duty. If you think I stepped over the limits of—moderation, I am willing and ready to apologise."
"What a funny woman you are!" said James, looking at her with a good-humoured, but rather astonished smile.
"I'm sure I don't know what makes you think so," she answered, bridling a little.
"It never occurred to me that you honestly thought you were acting rightly when you came and gave me a piece of your mind, as you call it. I thought your motives were simply malicious and uncharitable."
"I have a very high ideal of my duties as a clergyman's wife."
"The human animal is very odd."
"I don't look upon myself as an animal, Captain Parsons."
James smiled.